A former U.S. ambassador to Russia bashed the latest peace plan for Russia's war in Ukraine offered by President Donald Trump, arguing that it "reveals American weakness" and does not serve the country's interests.
Michael McFaul, ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014, penned a new op-ed in The Kyiv Independent that sharply criticizes the 28-point peace plan the Trump administration has reportedly pressured the Ukrainians to accept. The plan would prohibit Ukraine from joining NATO, require to to give up its long-range missiles, and give up land occupied by Russian forces, including parts of the country that Russia does not fully control.
Experts have noted that the plan heavily reflects Russian negotiating points.
"This Putin plan does not serve American national interests," McFaul wrote. "The sooner Trump and his team amend it or abandon it, the better it will be for U.S. security and prosperity."
"Endorsing this plan embarrassingly underscores that all of Trump’s courtship of Putin, punctuated by rolling out the red carpet for the Russian imperialist dictator in Alaska in August, has yielded not a single substantive concession from Russia," he added.
McFaul also argued that the plan includes several "egregious" points, such as placing a cop on the size of Ukraine's army going forward.
"The United States needs a strong Ukraine to help contain Putin’s Russia," McFaul argued. "Many of these provisions do the exact opposite; they weaken Ukraine."